Scranton Prep Wins District 2 4A District Title

With the momentum favoring Valley View at the end of the third quarter, Scranton Prep needed a big shot and moment. Enter Brycen Martin and Daniel Santaniello. Martin scored 12 of his team high 14 points in the fourth quarter. Hitting a big shot and sinking key free throws down the stretch. Santiello added 13 points and had a key steal that led to the District title. "We battled alot of adversity this year but this group of guys stayed together and we battled it out today." said Martin. "I was in foul trouble for most of the second half, played a little passive and I got the steal when I saw it." said Santaniello on his key steal. "Proud of our kids for beating a really good team. They stuck together and got it done." said Cavalier head coach Andrew Kettel on winning the District Championship.

With the game tied at 2, Chase Scanlan hit a three pointer to make it 5-2 Scranton Prep. After an Eli Yusavage bucket, Scanlan got the lead back to three with a basket of his own. Valley View cut the lead to one with a basket by Kyle Rupp and a free throw by Taheed Jewell. Roman Valvano and Daniel Santaniello each hit a pair of free throws to make it 12-7 and took a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Santaniello scored five straight points to make it an eight point game. After a Nick Kucharski basket, Santaniello sunk a three pointer and Scanlan hit a basket to make it an 11 point lead. The Cougars went on a 10-2 run to end the first half and only trailed 24-21.

Valley View started off the third quarter by going on a 6-0 run with Yusavage scoring four straight points and taking a 27-24 lead. After a Brycen Martin basket, Taheed Jewell hit a free throw and AJ Kuharski made a three point play to make it 31-26 and the Cougars led 33-29 at the end of the third quarter.

After both teams traded a free throw each, Chase Scanlan hit a basket then Martin hit a three pointer to give the Cavaliers a 35-34 lead. Yusavage answered with a basket for the Cougars to take back the lead. However, Santaniello hit a free throw to tie the game then Ambrose Rossi gave Scranton Prep the lead with over three and a half minutes left. Valley View had an opportunity to tie the game up but missed both free throws and Martin got a basket to increase the Cavaliers lead to 40-36. Jewell hit a pair of free throws to make it a two point game. However, Santaniello increase the lead to four with a pair of free throws and a basket by James Pettinato made it six. Yusavage cut the lead down to three with a three pointer. The Cougars got a defensive stop but then Santaniello got a steal and got the ball to Martin who sunk a pair of free throws and were able to hold on to win the District 2 4A Championship. Head Coach Andrew Kettel is 8-0 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Eli Yusavage had a game high 19 points for Valley View.